BIMSTEC Finalizes Crucial Agreements on Connectivity and Security

New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The 25th session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) concluded on Wednesday in Bangkok, Thailand. This meeting, which precedes the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on April 3 and the 6th BIMSTEC Summit on April 4, finalized key documents and set the agenda for the upcoming discussions at the Ministerial and Summit levels.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Thailand on April 3 to participate in the BIMSTEC summit. Following the summit, he will visit Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6.

The significant outcomes of the 25th SOM include:

• The finalization of the Draft Declaration for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, detailing the vision, decisions, and directives to be adopted by the heads of State/Governments during the Summit.
• The finalization of the Draft Report for the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, which will be reviewed and accepted by the Foreign Ministers in their meeting.
• The consideration of the Report from the Eminent Persons Group on the Future Direction of BIMSTEC, which includes recommendations for reforming and revitalizing the regional grouping and will be reviewed by both the Foreign Ministers and leaders during the Summit.
• The review of various other reports, including from meetings held since the 24th SOM, and the proceedings of the BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee.
• The review of the Panel of Auditors’ Report for the Financial Year 2014-2015, offering insights into BIMSTEC's financial status.
• The finalization of the Draft Concept Note regarding the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine, aiming to provide a framework for establishing the Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The draft Joint Statement on the impact of the Myanmar-Thailand Earthquake on March 28, 2025, highlighting the importance of establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Disaster Management in India; this statement is to be adopted by the leaders during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

The BIMSTEC SOM acts as a crucial decision-making body for the regional organization, convening foreign secretaries and senior officials from member states.

The delegations expressed their sincere appreciation to the government of Thailand for successfully hosting the 25th SOM, setting the stage for the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting and Summit.

BIMSTEC, which consists of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, is focused on collaboration across seven key sectors: Agriculture & Food Security, Connectivity, Environment & Climate Change, People-to-People Contact, Science, Technology & Innovation, Security, and Trade, Investment & Development.

It also addresses eight sub-sectors, including the Blue Economy, Mountain Economy, Energy, Disaster Management, Fisheries & Livestock, Poverty Alleviation, Health, and Human Resource Development.

With these advancements, BIMSTEC member states are positioning themselves for enhanced regional cooperation to tackle urgent challenges and seize opportunities across the Bay of Bengal region.